Earth-pot press



July 17, 1951 G. N. PETTl-:RSEN

EARTH-POT PRESS Filed Nov. 16, 1946 ElZ- \NvENToQ.

Patented July 17, 1951 EARTH-POT PRESS Gunnar Nimrod P'ettersen, Halden, Norway Application November 16, 1946, Serial N0. '710,281 In Norway September 18, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires September 18, 1963 The usual presses for earth-pots which are employed for the setting out of plants in nursery grounds and the like, are cumbersome in operation and therefore have a small capacity, even these are rather costly and often have a great number of movable parts, so that they become rather easily damaged. This is particularly undesirable since, as a rule, such presses are operated by laymen.

Earth-pot presses subject to these disadvantages are already known, and they ordinarily comprise a plurality of moulds which are moved intermittently past a pressing position with a pressing die acting from above and an expelling position angularly displaced therefrom. These functions in such a manner that, in each position of rest of the moulds, a pot can be pressed in one mould and a pot can be expelled from a second mould, while a. third mould is being filled with earth. Thus mould presses are known in which the moulds are interconnected so as to form a chain, and wherein the pressing takes place while the mould rests on a stationary support, and the expulsion is effected by a common expelling rod, which is pushed horizontally into the mould through an opening in the bottom thereof after the mould has left the support. In these known constructions the necessitry of providing a link chain constitutes a complication, and a great number of moulds is required for a given capacity, because the positions on the way back are not utilized.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an earth-pot press which apart from having a great capacity which is also cheap to manufacture and is of a simple and, above all, of a robust construction.

The press according to the invention comprises a mould wheel shaped with a plurality of moulds, which by a step by step movement of the mould wheel about a vertical axis is moved past a pressing position with a pressing die acting from above and an expelling position angularly displaced therefrom. The main feature of the press consists in the feature that the pressing die is carried by a rod which passes centrally through the mould wheel and there is provided a xed 9 claims. .(ol. .z5- 24) bottom plate on which the moulds rest with open bottom, and which is provided with an opening at the expelling position. A very simple and robust construction is thereby attained, as the fixed bottom plate, apart from forming part of the fixed frame of the apparatus, closes the bottoms of the open moulds during lling and pressing and also forms a support and bearing for the mould wheel and the die rod, and even with manual operation a great capacity may be obtained. This is because the arrangement of the diecarrying rod in the center renders the periphery of the mould wheel easily accessible for rotating the mould wheel, filling with earth, removal of finished pots, etc., and thus permits, at the same time, the driving of the die from a pedal in a simple manner.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description of two constructional embodiments, read in connection with the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a top view of the press according to one embodiment.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the same embodiment in axial sections taken along the lines II--II and III-III respectively in Fig. l, and

Fig. 4 is a top view of the other embodiment with parts broken away.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 1 3, a stationary bottom plate I is supported by a frame, which is not shown in further detail. The mould wheel is constituted by a one-piece casting comprising a boss 2, a rotatable disk 3 and eight open moulds 4, 41, 4II WH projecting downwards therefrom, and is journalled centrally in the plate I and rests upon the same. The wheel is formed with a peripheral bulge 5, so that it may conveniently be rotated like a hand wheel. The die 6, which in the position of the mould wheel shown in the drawing is situated over the mould 11, is carried by a horizontal arm on a rod l', which is guided vertically in the boss 2. Through a link 8 the rod 'I is connected with a pedal 9 adapted to be trodden down against the action of a spring II and having a fixed pivot I0. The expeller I2 is located in an opening in the bottom plate I below the mould 4 and is carried by a rod I3 guided vertically in a bracket I4 at the bottom side of the plate I. A two-armed lever I5 is pivoted in the bracket and connects the expeller I2, I3 with the die rod 1, so that the expeller is moved opposite to the die when the pedal 9 is actuated.

I6 is a covering plate, which is carried by a stud I l xed to the plate I by a screw connection,

and is situated just above the mould 41, and which has a circular opening for the die 6 coaxial with the latter. Each of the moulds have a stop I8, which in the expelling position co-operates with a stop I9. The stop I9 is mounted rockably and displaceably on a tangential pivot 2U carried by the plate I.

An arm 2I rintegral with the stop I9 bears 'continuously against the bottom side of the expeller I2, the stop I9 having a bias at the outer side of the pivot and therefore always tending to rock outwards. Besides, the stop I9 is actuated by a compression spring 22, which Ais compressed when the stop I8 abuts against thev stop -I9 dur'- ing rotation of the mould wheel in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1.

The manner of operation is as follows: '-One man stands to the left of the press and operates the mechanism, while another man stands-tothe right and fills the mould with earth. When the man to the left treads the pedal down.v inthe p osition'showrn :the die v-Ifgoes down intotheemould Maand vpresses Vthe earth'therein, so that a pot is formed. At thesame time the =expeller .I3fis -raised and expel-lsy a 7iinishedfpotfromthe mould 1l. The vstop I9 fthenrocks Vupwardly and leaves thefstop I8, whereupon `the `sp-ring 22. displacesit in the rearward direction in Fig. 1. The` man ,-thenputs the pot away from the Amould# and releases lthe :pedal so `that the spring -II draws the die upwards, :and vthe 'expeller I2 -goes -down so tha-tthe -stop I9 --is -again turned inwards. -But because of the displacement. ofv this stop `.which hasftaken place, it ris lnow jpositioned 'behind the stopvf:I8,.-so that it no `longer bars :the Ecounterclockwise rotation vof -the -mould wheel. Then with the bulge 5 the man turns the mould'wheel lArofva revolution, whereby-thestopon 'thefmould 41 abuts against v-thestopufISL -and the spring 22 is' again f compressed.

Also in the embodiment accordingfto Fig.. 4 Vthe':pressfcomprises a -centraldie rod-23 and an expeller plate 24 acting from below,- and the lmould wheel is -cast infone piece' with the 'moulds 26, 5261, '26H 26m projecting downwardly therefrom. The actuating mechanism ffor s die rodand expellermay'beofthe same construction as in the rst embodiment.y However, vin this "case'the bearingoffthe mouldwheel25 'is at the :outside of the -boss 2I of the xed-bottom plate, so that the die 'rod '23 fis fguided inthe boss -21 itself Sand'the latter 'projects upward-through the `boss offthe mould wheel.

Az'I-radialz-arm 28" is rockably mountedwonthe 5boss E21 `above the mould -wheel '25 v:and 'carries fthe cove'r plate-#29, vwhichv in `the vpositio'ri'shown 'overlies 'the xmould 25V -in `the 'position .preceding the pressing position shown Iat 26W; The rarm -'28"can^rock about the boss 2"Iat-an'angle which equals 'the 'angular idisplacement fofY two .fadja-- cent moulds vand I'is 'limited by fthe 'abutment of a 'protube'rance l31| lon the boss' -2'I'against the extremities of 'a 'groove 3I 'in-the. boss -of 'the 'arm 28'.v

An fextension ofy the rarm 28 loutside 'the plate.y

A29 'carries/a bolt-32 whichfprojects downwardly therefrom. The bolt forms 'thepivot-off a -lever -3-3 `formed yas a projecting handle having 'an ginte'gral arm- P341, -which 'projects forward in Ythe direction` of rotation 'of lthe wheel 25, and .-the extremity of which -forms y'a wedge-shaped finger 'adapted-to engagefnotches 50,591,5(l2,-5EI3, 593,505,

'596 and '50" distributed over the periphery -of .the mould -wheel p-with the same angular vdistance i'shown, whereby the mould wheel 25 and the arm 2-8'With the covering plate 29 are turned until the protuberance 3B stops the movement in the position in which the plates 29 and the mould thereunder are situated centrally under the *pressing die 38, then he treads down on the pedal (not shown), whereby the die 38 is lowered and the. 'expeller 24 raised. He then puts theexpelled pot aside. He then pushes the lever .'33 Iaway from him in the clockwise direction. As a certain pressure from the pot which has just beenpresseddsfnow acting on the bottom side ofthe .plate 4251,:the,latter V.is withheld by .friction, sothat the .lever .turns y. clockwise, whereby the arm 34. is disengagedffrom the notch. y

The arm '33 vthen engages the stop -3,..and the arm .28 with the 4.plate 29 entrained backward, whereas .the inould wheel yremains stationary. .because of the friction .against the'base plate,.espe cially. at the .pot which has .just been pressed. During -.this .movement -thearrrri-Ulv will wipe on the .periphery ofthe wheelli` .because of the spring.f3'I-, irrespective .Whetherthe ,friction at the4 pivot Tof .the flever. 33- Ais greater orsmaller 'thanthe .friction vvat the bearing .of thev arm 28, and thek arm .311y `will renter. the next. notch .in the `plate -25 .by :itself at the .same time-as .theibackward rotation is stopped by the :protuberance A3G. Y In order Yto -secure Ya vsteady guidance `of the lever- 33, this .lever may be' provided with a lug 39, which Aengages vthe `Vbottom side -of 4the wheel 25, which-in this ease `is-of course not made lwith any vperipheral bulge. In order that the operator-mayadoptel convenient .position for \actu Yating the 'lever 33', a .position-2 SVH `is fin-thisfcase y inserted betweenl the vpressing v.position -2 BVI and theexpelling position Z6', and in-order `that the rfriction ymay be as small-as possible.' The `open- -ing -for the 'expeller in .the -bottom Aplate may also extendpastV `the position e-ZGVU. As no 4stop Idelicate part'of the construction shown in Figs.

y1--3, may be dispensedwith,-the'provisionfof the rockable 'covering plate 'land .leverffhas theadvantage Ithat-the @rotation -of fthe mould wheel becomes considerably easier than in the 'rst embodiment'.y `For", whereas the-embodiment shownain Figs. 1-3- .the #earthinfthefpot which has .iustbeen'pressed, and thereafter exerts A-a pressure on the-covering plate-aswellsas on the bottom plate, which providesffatfairly-great frictional resistanceetothe.rotation of the wheel, in -the embodiment' sh-own in Fig. 4 :the energy -required yfor overcoming the -friotion -is distributed Without loss of time between two operations, -due tothe f act that the covering plate ais turned back before the mould-wheel is rotated In addition, the friction on the lbottom plate isreduced-be cause-of the release of the .-pressurewhen the 'covering plate is removed.

Also additional facilitation is robtained-due '-to the fact that the operator works at a greater radius when the lever is directed outwards from the mould wheel, as shown. Further there is no risk of hurting the hand on the covering plate during rotation.

For iilling the moulds a sloping board 4| is shown in Fig. 4, which merges with an integral frame 42 open in top and bottom and is carried by bolts projecting upwards from the bottom plate outside the mould wheel, as indicated at 43 and 44. The frame 42 connes a segment-shaped chamber extending over a plurality of moulds, in the drawing the moulds 26I 26W, and projecting from the board 4I in the direction of rotation. Instead of the board 4 I, a hopper or other feeding member may be used. The earth mass which is spaded or otherwise supplied to the board or the like 4|, which slopes towards the mould wheel, is yentrained by the rotation of the latter so that it covers the mould wheel over the whole of the chamber confined by the frame. In this chamber it is pressed down into the mould 26III by a pressing plate 45 carried by an arm 46 xed on the die rod 23. A second pressing plate 41 over the last mould 261V covered by the frame is carried in a similar manner by an arm 48. The plate 45 may be adapted to be adjusted in the vertical direction and may be secured by means of a set screw 49 for adjusting the desired quantity of earth, Whereas the plate 41 may be actuated by a compression spring and supported by a stop, so that it yields resiliently if there is suicient earth in the mould already, but supplies the required additional quantity if there is not suicient earth in the mould.

Though it is preferred to use two pre-pressing plates 45 and 41 as shown, it is also possible to use a greater number or, if desired, only one such plate.

I claim:

1. An earth-pot press comprising a stationary bottom plate, a mould wheel rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of moulds integral with said wheel and equally spaced about said axis and formed with open bottoms resting on said bottom plate, means for arresting said wheel. in predetermined positions, a non-rotatable diecarrying rod extending substantially axially through said wheel, guiding means permitting longitudinal movement of said rod, a downwardly-acting die carried by said rod above said bottom plate and registering with one of said moulds in each of the predetermined positions of the wheel and adapted by downward movement of said rod, to press an earth-pot in the mould registering with the die in each predetermined position of the wheel, an annular covering plate overlying said mould during pressing, means for supporting said covering plate so as to retain the pressed earth within said mould during the return movement of the die, an upwardly-acting expeller registering with a second mould in each predetermined position of the wheel and normally located below said mould wheel, stationary guiding means permitting vertical movements of said expeller, means interconnecting said rod. and expeller for simultaneous movements in opposite directions, means for joint actuation of said rod and expeller and retracting means for returning said rod and expeller and retaining them in their normal positions.

2. An earth-pot press comprising a stationary bottom plate, a mould wheel rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of moulds integral with said wheel and equally spaced about said axis and formed with open bottoms resting on said bottom plate, means for arresting said wheel in predetermined positions, a non-rotatable die-carrying rod extending substantially axially through said wheel, guiding means permitting longitudinal movement of said rod, a downwardly-acting die carried by said rod above said bottom plate and registering with one of said moulds in each of the predetermined positions of the wheel, means for maintaining said die in a normal upper position above said wheel, means below said bottom plate for actuating said rod so as to move said rod and die downwards for causing pressing of an earth-pot in the mould registering with the die in each predetermined position of the Wheel, an upwardly-acting expeller registering with a second mould in each predetermined position o1' the wheel and normally located below said mould wheel, stationary guiding means permitting vertical movements of said expeller, and means for causing said expeller to move upwards so as to expel a pressed pot from said second mould, said arresting means comprising a stopping member adapted on operation of the pressing and expelling mechanism to be moved from an operative to an inoperative position and thereafter automatically to return to said operative position.

3. An earth-pot press comprising a stationary bottom plate, a mould wheel rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of moulds integral with and projecting downwards from said wheel and equally spaced about said axis and formed with open bottoms resting on said bottom plate, an integral peripherical bulge on said mould wheel permitting the same to be turned like a hand wheel, means for arresting said wheel in predetermined positions, a non-rotatable die-carrying rod extending substantially axially through said wheel, guiding means permitting longitudinal movement of said rod, a downwardly-acting die carried by said rod above said bottom plate and registering with one of said moulds in each of the predetermined positions of the wheel, means for maintaining said die in a normal upper position above said wheel means below said bottom plate for actuating said rod, so as to move said rod and die downwards for causing pressing of an earth-pot in the mould registering with the die in each predetermined position of the wheel, an upwardly-acting expeller registering with a second mould in each predetermined position of the wheel and normally located below said mould wheel, stationary guiding means permitting vertical movements of said expeller and means for causing said expeller to move upwards so as to expel a pressed pot from said second mould.

4. An earth-pot press comprising a stationary bottom plate, a notched mould Wheel rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of moulds integral with said wheel and equally spaced about said axis and formed with open bottoms resting on said bottom plate, a non-rotatable die-carrying rod extending substantially axially through said Wheel, guiding means permitting longitudinal movement of said rod, a downwardly-acting die carried by said rod above said bottom plate and registering with one of said moulds at a time in predetermined positions of the wheel, means for maintaining said die in a normal upper position above said wheel, means below said bottom plate for actuating said rod so as to move said rod and die downwards for causing pressing of an earth-pot in the mould registering with the die in each predetermined position of the wheel,

an .annular :cox/tering:plate mounted!v above'fthe 'mould wheelgfanfarnr carrying saidy :covering plate andi rotatable about the. axis ofthel mould wheel over Jan angle equaltowthe .angular 'spacing -of adjacent'moulds; ahandle vrockably` mounted on said farmv and so :adapted that when f rotated in the-directioir offrotationiof the' mould wheel, `it

.engages one iof theI notches in'sad'wheell so as to fentrain the latter in the v'rotating zmovement, butnwhenrotated in'the opposite direction, disengages the 'mould'wh'eeland abuts against the said-arm Vsoiasto frotate thev same in the-'backward 1r direction,VA i an: u};:wardlyactingV expeller registering with a; secondvmould in' each' predetermined'positioncoflthe wheel and normally Ilo- .cated belowsai'd' m'oul'otwheel, stationary guiding means 4V'permitting `vertical movements ofV said expellerf; and 'means for vcausing ysaid expeller'to move upwardsso `ase-.to expela pressed 'pot from 5;-'An earth-pot'press comprising a stationary bottom plate7 anotchedmould wheel rotatable aboutf'a vertical axis,` a 'plurality of 'moulds' integralr'with said-"wlieelfand equally spaced kabout saidfaxis landfformedrwith open fbottoms resting onk said bottom plate',- a non-rotatable Adich-carryingf` srod extending substantially- 'axially 'through saidtmvheel;guidingfv means permitting longitudinal'movement 'of 'said rod; -a downwardly-'acting diecarried by saidrod above-'said bottom platel and registering with one of' said moulds yata time vin :predetermined@positionsy of `the wheel,V means th'emoul'd wheel; an arm carrying said'covering f plate and `rotatable about the axis of the mould wheel over varr angle equal to 'the'angular spacing .ffofv adjacentwmoulds', a handle rock'ably mounted=on said arm andY so adaptediithatwhen rotated 'in the directionv of rotation of themould i wheel, it engages one of thenotches insaid wheel so asto entrain -thelatter'in the rotating"v movement, but when rotated in the yopposite directions disengagesf'the@mouldYwheel and abuts against the-'said'arm' so-Jastot nrotate the same in the backward' direction,I a spring acting'between' said arm' and handle. and tending-to move the handle into :engagement 'with' 'the mould wheel;v an upwardly-actingexpeller. registeringk with` a second moulde'in' each predetermined position-of they wheelfi'and 'normally located 'below' said mould wheel,v .stationary`v guiding y/means permitting vertical movement of saideXpeIler, and meansfor causingifsaid Aexpeller to moveupwards'so as to -expelifapressed'pot from said? secondfmould;y

6. @An learth=p0t :press comprising sa stationary bottom fplateg a :notchedffmould/wheel lrotatable aboutxaxvertical :axisfa plurality of moulds integra'l Ywith said wheel .and'equally spacedfabout said1V 'Laxis andfformedwit'li openbottoms resting on 'said' bottom plate, a non-rotatable diecarryingA rodw extending substantially` axially 'through said.` wheel,v 'guidingA means permitting longitudinal movementof said rod, a downwardlyacting die carried by saidrod' vabove, said fibottoin plate and registering with Aone of saidf'mo'uldsat a :time in predetermined-'positions ofthe. wheel, andadaptedby downward movement of 'said .rod tor. press an "earth-'pot inl-the zmould registering 8 the wheel: ani annulalyfcovering -plate mounted abovethe mouldA wheel, anlarm carryin'gfsaidlcoveringv plate Iand .rotatable`1ab'out 'the axis fof?A the mouldfwheelf1over an angle equal-tothe angular spacing of adjacent moulds, affhandlerockably mounted" on saidarm and so adaptedritliatfwhen rotated in thedirection of rotation of the-'mould wheel; it engages oneof-the notches in said wheel so asl to entrain `theflatterfini-the rotatn'gwmovement,^ but whenrotatedfin the oppositedirection, `disengages thefx'mould' wheel "and E abuts against'the said arm so as'l to'. rotate ltlfie 'samein the backward direction,` lan =upwardlyactingf1ex peller 4registering-:with'a,` second mould ineach lpredetermined positionf of thewl'ieelf andnormall-y located below said 'moud1\whee1;'= stationary=-guid ing means lperm'ittingfw'ertic'al'moveinentsffof said expeller; means"interconnecting.saidf-rodfandrexpeller for simultaneousmovements in `op'positetdi- .rections,`mea'ns forl joint'factuatio'n of saidi'rod and' expeller` and retractingf means -forfireturning said rod land iexpeller;.and'fretaining rthem'firritheir normal positions."-

7. An earth-pot press comprising -a"stat'ionary 'bottom fplate; a fnotchedf mould wheel-rotatable aboutv a verticalr axis; a fplurality:of;- tmculdsaintegral" with' ysaid wheel'andz' equally) spacedfabout said' axisand -formed with :openfbottomsresting on- -said bottom fplate; Va non-'rotatablei 'dL-carr-ying: 'rod' extending su'bstinitially axially through said wheel-gu'idingimeans `permitting':longitudinal movement of said rod; :a :downwardly-actingudie carried byv saidv 'rodfabove said? fbottom plate and registering with 'one-"of 4saidA moulds .fat a 'time-tin rpredeterminedrpositions othe ewheeip andi adapted by downward movement ofisaidfrodiitovpress an:v earth-pot' in .the 'mould'f-'registering rwithrf'the die in 'each predeterminedposition-of the 1-whe'el, an f annularf ycovering iplateifmounted'-fabove the mould wheel, an arm carrying said coveringplate and rotatable about the axis of the mouldifweel over an anglehequalto 'theangular "spacing of adjacent moulds, a handle rockably-mounted on said arm and so adaptedthatwhen rotated in the Ydirection offrotationof the mould 'wheelg'it engages one of'the'notches in saidwheel so as to entrain the latter in the rotating movement, vbut when rotated in the opposite direction, disengages the mould wheel and abuts against-the said arm so as'to rotate the sam'e in the backward direction, a spring' acting between 'said arm 'and'handle'and tending'to move thehandle'into' engagement 4with the` moulldl wlieel, an upwardly-acting` expellery registering with Ya Second 'mouldv in each predetermined Aposition of the wheel and'normally located' below `said mould wheel, station'- ary guiding means permitting Vertical movements of said `expeller', means interconnecting saidA rod and expeller forsimultan'eous' movements in opposite directionsmeans for joint actuation of Said rod and expeller and retracting'means forlreturning said rod and e'Xp'ell'er and'retaining'th'em in their normal positions.

8. An earth-pot press comprising a stationary bottom plate', a mould wheel rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of moulds integral 'with said wheel and equally spaced 'about said 'axis and formed with open bottoms resting on said bottom plate, means for arresting said wheel in predetermined positions, a non-rotatable diecarrying rod extending substantially axially through said wheel, guiding means permitting longitudinal movement of' said rod-a downwardlyacting vdie carried by said rod 'above said bottom `with theLdie in .each `predetermined "position of 75 platei and registering withfone off'sa-id mouldsr'in each of the predetermined-positions of the wheel, l means for maintaining said die in a normal upA v per position above said wheel means below said bottom plate for actuating said rod so as to move the wheel and normally located below said mould.

wheel, stationary guiding means permitting vertical movements of said expeller, means for causing said expeller to move upward so as to expel a pressed pot from said second mould, a stationary feeding device, a conning frame merging therewith and extending over a plurality of moulds other than those registering with said die and said expeller, and at least one pressing plate carried by said rod and registering with a mould within the area of said frame in each predetermined position of the wheel.

9. An earth-pot press comprising a stationary bottom plate, a mould wheel rotatable about e. vertical axis, a plurality of moulds integral with said wheel and equally spaced about said axis and formed with open bottoms resting on said bottom plate, means for arresting said wheel in predetermined positions, a non-rotatable diecarrying rod extending substantially axially through said wheel, guiding means permitting longitudinal movement of said rod, a downwardly-acting die carried by said rod above said bottom plate and registering with one of said moulds in each of the predetermined positions of the wheel, means for maintaining said die in a normal upper position above said wheel, means below said bottom plate for actuating said rod so as to move said rod and die downwards for causing pressing of an earth-pot in the mould registering with the die in each predetermined position of the wheel, an upwardly-acting expeller registering with a 'second mould in each predetermined position ofthe wheel and normally located below said mould wheel, stationary guiding means permitting vertical ymovements of said expeller, means for causing said expeller to move upwards so as to expel a pressed pot from said second mould, a stationary feeding device, a confining frame merging therewith and extending over a plurality of moulds other than those registering with said die and said expeller, and two pressing plates carried by said rod in alignment of adjacent moulds within the area of said Aframe, of which pressing plates the foremost plate is adjustable in the vertical direction and the other plate is adopted to yield resiliently in the upward direction relative to the rod.

G. NIMROD PETTERSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

